Journal of

Dental Research
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Dental Composite Resins Containing Silica-fused Ceramic Single-crystalline Whiskers with

Various Filler Levels
H.H.K. Xu
J DENT RES 1999 78: 1304
DOI: 10.1177/00220345990780070401
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J Dent Res 78(7): 1304-1311, July, 1999

Dental Composite Resins Containing

Silica-fused Ceramic Single-crystalline
Whiskers with Various Filler Levels
H.H.K. Xu
Paffenbarger Research Center, American Dental Association Health Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building
224, Room A-153, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA

Abstract. Currently available direct-filling composite resins

are susceptible to fracture and hence are not recommended
for use in large stress-bearing posterior restorations involving cusps. The glass fillers in composites provide only limited reinforcement because of the brittleness and low
strength of glass. The aim of the present study was to use
ceramic single-crystalline whiskers as fillers to reinforce
composites, and to investigate the effect of whisker filler
level on composite properties. Silica particles were fused
onto the whiskers to facilitate silanization and to roughen
the whiskers, thereby improving retention in the matrix. The
composite flexural strength, elastic modulus, hardness, and
degree of polymerization conversion were measured as a
function of whisker filler mass fraction, which ranged from
0% to 70%. Selected composites were polished simulating
clinical procedures, and the surface roughness was measured with profilometry. The whisker composite with a filler
mass fraction of 55% had a flexural strength (mean SD; n =
6) of 196 10 MPa, significantly higher than 83 14 MPa of
a microfill and 120 16 MPa of a hybrid composite control
(family confidence coefficient = 0.95; Tukey's multiple comparison). The composite modulus and hardness increased
monotonically with filler level. The flexural strength first
increased, then plateaued with increasing filler level. The
degree of conversion decreased with increasing filler level.
The whisker composite had a polished surface roughness
similar to that of a conventional hybrid composite (p > 0.1;
Student's t). To conclude, ceramic whisker reinforcement
can significantly improve the mechanical properties of composite resins; the whisker filler level plays a key role in
determining composite properties; and the reinforcement
mechanisms appear to be crack pinning by whiskers and
friction from whisker pullout resisting crack propagation.
Key words: composite resin, reinforcement mechanism,
strength, whisker filler level, polishability.
Received June 18, 1998; Last Revision September 24, 1998;
Accepted September 30, 1998

1304

Introduction
Composite resins are commonly used dental restorative
materials, and significant improvements have been made in
their microstructure and properties (Cross et al., 1983; Jorden
and Suzuki, 1991; Bowen et al., 1992; Ferracane and Marker,
1992; Willems et al., 1992; Eick et al., 1993, 1997; Bayne et al.,
1994; Wilder et al., 1996; Loza-Herrero et al., 1998). To reinforce dental composite resins, short glass fibers have been
used as fillers, producing limited improvements in composite mechanical properties (Krause et al., 1989). Various other
filler systems have been tested for the reinforcement of composite resins (Antonucci et al., 1991). Particulates of networked fibers (Bayne and Thompson, 1996) were recently
used to strengthen composite resins. The effects of filler
level and degree of conversion on composite properties
have been examined (Condon and Ferracane, 1997). It is
generally suggested that direct-filling composite resins are
still susceptible to fracture and therefore are not recommended for use in large stress-bearing posterior applications, especially those that involve cusps (Ferracane, 1992;
Mazer et al., 1992; Sakaguchi et al., 1992; Bayne et al., 1994;
Leinfelder, 1995; Anusavice, 1996).
Reinforcement with ceramic single-crystalline whiskers
has been shown to toughen and strengthen engineering
structural materials (e.g., Lawn, 1993; Xu et al., 1996). These
whiskers are single crystals with a high degree of structural
perfection resulting in high strength values. The elongated
shapes of these whiskers (e.g., a length-to-diameter ratio of 5
to 10) can effectively bridge a matrix microcrack, restraining
it from propagating (Lawn, 1993; Xu et al., 1994). The small
whisker size (e.g., a diameter of 0.1 ,um to 1 ,um, two orders
of magnitude smaller than most ceramic fibers) facilitates a
relatively uniform distribution of the whiskers with random
orientation in the matrix, improves composite machinability
or polishability, and reduces abrasiveness (Xu et al., 1996).
Ceramic whiskers have been incorporated into matrices of
ceramics, metals, and some polymers, showing promising
reinforcement results (Tominaga and Sasaki, 1987; Carberry

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Dental Resins Containing Whiskers with Various Filler Levels

j Dent Res 78(7) 1999

and Negrych, 1992; Xu et al., 1996). However, only recently

have ceramic single-crystalline whiskers been used to reinforce dental composite resins. A pilot study on ceramic single-crystalline whisker reinforcement of dental composite
resins (Xu et al., 1999) showed significant improvements in
composite mechanical properties. Silica glass particles were
fused onto the whiskers at high temperatures to facilitate
silanization no matter the whisker composition, and to
improve whisker retention in the resin matrix by providing
rougher whisker surfaces. In that study, however, only a
single filler level of whiskers was tested, and hence the
effect of whisker content on reinforcement efficacy and
mechanical properties was not evaluated. In addition, the
mechanisms of whisker reinforcement and the microstructural factors that control the composite properties were not
investigated. Furthermore, the polishability of composite
resins containing elongated ceramic single-crystalline
whiskers was not examined.
The aim of the present study, therefore, was to investigate
the reinforcement of dental composite resins with singlecrystalline ceramic whiskers fused with silica glass particles,
and to understand the effect of whisker filler level on composite properties and the mechanisms of reinforcement.
Flexural strength, elastic modulus, and hardness were evaluated as a function of whisker filler mass fraction ranging
from 0% to 70%. The mechanisms of whisker reinforcement
were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
The degree of methacrylate polymerization conversion of the
whisker composite resins was measured by means of a
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic technique.
Conversion was correlated with the composite mechanical
properties as a function of whisker filler level. In addition,
the effects of the elongated whiskers on the composite polishability were evaluated by profilometric measurement of
the roughness of composite surfaces polished simulating
clinical procedures.

Materials and methods

Filler powder preparation
The whiskers used in this study were single-crystalline silicon
nitride (3-Si3N4) (UBE Industries, New York, NY) with diameters ranging from 0.1 p.m to 1.5 p.m (mean = 0.4 pLm) and length
ranging from 2 p.m to 20 p.m (mean = 5 pLm) (Hirata et al., 1989).
The whiskers were mixed with fumed silica having a nominal
particle size of 0.04 p.m (Aerosil OX50, Degussa Corp.,
Ridgefield, NJ, USA) at a whisker:silica mass ratio of 2:1 in ethyl
alcohol stirred with a magnetic bar under vacuum until dry (Xu
et al., 1999). The dried mixture was then heated in a furnace in
air for 30 min at a temperature of 800C. This heat treatment was
found to be adequate to fuse the silica particles onto the
whiskers to facilitate silanization and enhance the whisker retention in the matrix by providing rougher whisker surfaces (Xu et
al., 1999). The heat-treated powder was then silanized by being
mixed with 4% mass fraction of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) and 2% mass fraction of n-propylamine in cyclohexane by means of a rotary evaporator in a 90C
water bath until dry (Antonucci and Stansbury, 1990).

1305

Specimen fabrication
The silanized powder was manually blended by spatulation
with a resin monomer consisting of mass fractions of 48.975%
Bis-GMA, 48.975% TEGDMA (triethylene glycol dimethacrylate), 0.05% 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), and 2%
benzoyl peroxide (BPO) to form paste one, the initiator paste, of
a two-part chemically activated composite. Paste two, the accelerator paste, consisted of the same amount of filler powder
mixed with a resin made of mass fractions of 49.5% Bis-GMA,
49.5% TEGDMA, and 1% N,N-dihydroxyethyl-p-toluidine
(DHEPT) as the polymerization accelerator. The following filler
mass fractions were tested so that the effect of whisker content
on composite properties could be evaluated: 0%, 10%, 20%,
30%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, and 70%.
At each filler mass fraction, equal masses of the two pastes
were manually blended by spatulation and placed into a mold
cavity of 2 mm x 2 mm x 20 mm to make flexural specimens.
Each specimen was incubated at 37C for 15 min for chemical
curing, and then demolded. To examine the effect of degree of
conversion on composite mechanical properties, we subjected
additional specimens at a filler mass fraction of 70% to heat cure
at 90C for 24 hrs (Ferracane and Marker, 1992). The cured
specimens were immersed in distilled water at 37C for 24 hrs
prior to being tested.
Three control composites were fabricated. A hybrid composite (TPHTM, Caulk/Dentsply, Inc., Milford, DE, USA) consisted
of silanized silicate filler particles about 0.8 p.m in diameter and
a filler mass fraction of 78% in a matrix resin of a urethanemodified Bis-GMA and TEGDMA. A silica microfill composite,
fabricated in the present study, consisted of silanized silica particles 0.04 pm in size (Aerosil OX50, DEGUSSA Corp.,
Ridgefield, NJ, USA) at a filler mass fraction of 50% in a matrix
of Bis-GMA and TEGDMA mixed at a mass ratio of 1:1, the
same as that for the whisker composites. Since the whisker
pastes at filler mass fractions of less than 60% were relatively
flowable, a flowable composite (Ultraseal XT., Ultradent
Products, Inc., South Jordan, UT, USA) was also tested as control that contained barium fluorosilicate glass fillers to a mass
fraction of 60%. The control specimens were cured by light
(Triad 2000., Dentsply International, Inc., York, PA, USA) for 1
min on each side of the specimen. All the cured specimens were
immersed in distilled water at 37C for 24 hrs prior to being
tested.

Mechanical testing
A standard three-point flexural test (ASTM F417-78, 1984) with
a fixture span of 10 mm was used to fracture the specimens at a
crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min on a computer-controlled
Universal Testing Machine (Model 5500R, Instron Corp.,
Canton, MA, USA). The specimen fracture surfaces were sputter-coated with gold and examined in a scanning electron
microscope (SEM, JSM-5300, JEOL, Inc., Peabody, MA, USA). A
Vickers diamond pyramid was used in a standard microhardness tester (Zwick of America, Inc., East Windsor, CT, USA) to
indent specimens at a normal load of 10 N. The impression
diagonal length was measured by means of an optical microscope with Nomarski contrast (Nikon Diaphot, Mager Scientific,
Inc., Dexter, MI, USA) coupled with a video micrometer (Model
305, Colorado Video, Inc., Boulder, CO, USA) (Xu et al., 1998).

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1306

J Dent Res 78(7) 1999

Xu

250.
i

200

Measurement of degree of conversion

To understand the effect of whisker filler level on degree of conversion and composite mechanical properties, we measured the
degree of methacrylate polymerization conversion of the
whisker composites. The degree of conversion was analyzed on

=150

O)

a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer (Magna-IR

550,
Nicolet,
Madison,
WI, USA) by
a potassium(Ferracane
bromide (KBr)
as described
and
pellet
technique,
previously
J ;Greener, 1986; Rueggeberg et al., 1990; Ferracane and Marker,
1992). The cured composite specimens were ground by mortar
and pestle. Approximately 3 mg of the ground powder was
mixed with 150 mg KBr and pressed into a pellet for transmis0 .sion FTIR. The carbon-carbon double-bond absorbance intensity
80
at 1638 cm41 was referenced separately to the aromatic peaks at
1610 cm-1 and 1583 cm-1, by a standard baseline technique

-hybrid

o
Isilica

L50

:flowable

20

40

60

(Ferracane
Greener,
Rueggeberg
et al., 1990; Ferracane
and
Three1986;
were made and tested
at each
Marker,and1992).
pellets
of the following whisker filler mass fractions: 0%, 10%, 20%,
30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%.

12
C

The hardness number H was calculated according to a standard

formula (ASTM E 384, 1991): H = 1.854 P/d2, where P is the
indentation load, and d is the impression diagonal length.

10

N*.

r/

hybrid

hyrdfilled

silica

flowable

..

20

40

80

60

1.1

-t

v 0.9

0.7
v

hybd

0.5
,
2

0.

0u.3

En

0.1

20

40

60

Filler Level (mass %)

Measurement of polishability
To examine the effects of whiskers on the composite polishability, we prepared class I cavities in eight human third molars.
Four cavities were filled with the whisker composite resin having a filler mass fraction of 55%, and the other four cavities were
with the hybrid composite (TPH). The restorations were
polished simulating clinical procedures by means of a 12-fluted
carbide bur followed by a 30-fluted bur and finished with a rubber polishing tip. In addition, six bar specimens of each of the
two composites, with dimensions of 2 mm x 2 mm x 10 mm,
were fabricated according to the procedures described earlier
and polished by the same procedure as that used for the
restorations. The average surface roughness (Ra) and the maximum surface roughness (Rd) were measured by means of a
computer-controlled profilometry system (Perthometer
Concept, Mahr Corp., Cincinnati, OH, USA) with a trace length
of approximately 1 mm on each polished bar specimen.
One-way ANOVA was performed so that significance (c =
0.05) of composite properties could be detected. Tukey's
Multiple
Comparison Procedures were used at a family confidence coefficient of 0.95 to rank and group the measured values.

80

Results
Each datum in the plots of flexural strength, modulus, and
hardness (Fig. 1) is the mean value with error bar showing
Oone standard deviation of six measurements. The silica

Figure 1. Each datum is the mean value with one standard deviation;
n = 6. A hybrid posterior composite (TPH) at a filler mass fraction of
78%, a microfill (silica) at a filler mass fraction of 50%, and a flowable
composite (Ultraseal) at a filler mass fraction of 60% are included as
control. The open square symbol in each plot designates the whisker

composite at a filler mass fraction of 70% that was heat-cured.

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Denltal Resinis Containing Whiskers with Variouzs Filler Lecv3ls

j Dent Rcs 780 1999

Figure 2. SEM micrographs of fracture
surfaces for (A) a hybrid posterior
composite (TPH), (B) the unfilled resin
(0' 4,, (C) the whisker composite withi a
filler mass fraction of lO'/,, and (D) the
whisker composite with a filler mass
fraction of 45%/. The directioni of crack
during flexural failure
propagation
was approximately from top to bottom of each micrograph. The fracture
surfaces of the hybrid composite and
the unfilled resin were relatively flat;
those of the whisker composites had
relatively large fracture steps, as indicated by the big arrows. The whiskers
are indicated by the small arrows.

composite at a filler mass fraction of 50%, the flowable composite (Ultraseal) at a filler mass
fraction of 60%, and the hybrid
posterior composite (TPH) at a
filler mass fraction of 78'$ are
included as control. The open
square symbol in each plot designates additional whisker composite specimens at a filler mass fraction of 70% that was
heat-cured. The modulus and hardness showed a monotonic increase with an increase in the filler level. The flexural
strength of the whisker composite increased from about 100
MPa to almost 200 MPa with an increase in the filler level
from Oh to 45%, then plateaued and even slightly
decreased when the filler level was further increased to
70/. The whisker composite with a filler mass fraction of
55'Y, had a flexural strength (mean + one standard deviation; n = 6) of 196 + 10 MPa, significantly higher than 83 +
14 MPa of the microfill composite (silica) and 120 16 MPa
of the hybrid composite (TPH) (family confidence coefficient = 0.95; Tukey's multiple-comparison test). Heat-cured
specimens had significantly higher flexural strength and
hardness than those without heat-curing at a filler mass
fraction of 70% (p < 0.05; Student's t).
Representative SEM micrographs of specimen fracture
surfaces (Fig. 2) are for (A) the hybrid composite (TPH), (B)
the unfilled resin (filler mass fraction 0%), (C) the whisker
composite with a filler mass fraction of 10%, and (D) the
whisker composite with a filler mass fraction of 45%. The
crack propagation direction during the flexural test was
approximately from top to bottom of each micrograph. The
fracture surfaces of the hybrid composite and the unfilled
resin were relatively flat; those of the whisker composites
had relatively large fracture steps, as indicated by the big
Figure 3. Higher-magnification SEM of fracture surfaces of the
whisker composite with a filler mass fraction of 55'Y. The direction
of crack propagation during flexural failure was approximately from
top to bottom of each micrograph. (A) Whisker pinninlg and deflecting the crack. When the crack finally broke away from the whisker,
numerous fracture lines and steps were created in the resin fracture
surface. (B) Whiskers pulled out of the matrix during crack opening.
The small arrows in Fig. 3B indicate remnants of matrix resin on the
surfaces of the whiskers, suggesting energy consumption and friction during whisker pullout.
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I130(7

1308

I Decnt Res 78(7) 1999

Xut

the crack finally broke away from the whisker, numerous

fracture lines and steps were created in the fracture surface
of the resin matrix. The whisker was not broken and
appeared well-bonded with the matrix. The small arrows in
Fig. 3B indicate remnants of matrix resin on the surfaces of
the pulled-out whiskers, suggesting energy consumption
during whisker-resin debonding and friction during whisker
pullout.
The degree of conversion (Table) generally decreased
with an increase in the filler level, with the unfilled resin
having the highest degree of conversion, and the whisker
composite with a filler mass fraction of 70% having the lowest degree of conversion (family confidence coefficient = 0.95;
Tukey's multiple-comparison test). Heat-curing significantly
increased the degree of conversion for the whisker composite
with a filler mass fraction of 70% (p < 0.05; Student's t).
Typical restorations after clinical polishing are shown in
Fig. 4 for (A) the hybrid posterior composite (TPH), and (B) a
whisker composite with a filler mass fraction of 55%. The
flexural strengths of the two composites are plotted in Fig.
4C, and the surface roughness values of bar specimens polished following clinical procedures are plotted in Fig. 4D.
The whisker paste hardened in about 2 min after being
placed in the tooth cavity. The polished restorations
appeared smooth and shiny. The hybrid composite was
translucent, while the whisker
composite was relatively
opaque with a whitish color.
The surface roughness values of
the two composites after being
polished, simulating clinical

Table. Degree of conversion of whisker-reinforced composite resins

Whisker Filler Mass Fraction (%)
0
10
20
30
40
5(
60
70

70 heat-cured

Degree of Conversion (%)'

69.7 + 2.7
64.0 + 1.0
64.8 -1.2
60.5 + 4.4
61.1 + 0.9
59.5 + 0.6
58.8 + 2.2
52.9 + 3.6
62.2 + I.1

conversion at a filler mass fraction of 0% was significantly higlher than that at 707,o; the degree of conversion at a
filler mass fraction of 70% with heat-cure was significantly higher
than that without heat-cure (p < 0.05; Student's t).
T he degree of

arrows. The whiskers are indicated by the small arrows.

Higher-magnification SEM micrographs (Fig. 3) show
fracture surfaces of the whisker composite with a filler mass
fraction of 55%. The crack propagation direction during the
flexural test was approximately from top to bottom of each
micrograph. Fig. 3A suggests that the whisker was pinning
and deflecting the crack (Lawn, 1993; Xu et al., 1994). When

procedures,

were not

cantly different (p

signifi-

>

0.1;

Student's t).

Discussion

D
03

-9
I

200
150

E=L
.n

0.75

(U

100

p
to
:3
0

0.50

C4

U-

1.00

50

0
0

1.
c-n

0
-.2

0.25

0.

k;
,a4

--a

Figure 4. Restorations of (A) a hybrid composite control (TPH), and (B) a whisker composite with a
filler mass fraction of 55%. The restorations appeared smooth and shiny after clinical polishing. The
whisker composite was relatively opaque with a whitish color. (C) Flexural strength of the two composites. (D) Average (R,) and maximum (R,) surface roughness values of bar specimens polished
simulating clinical procedures. Horizontal lines indicate values (mean + SD; n = 6) that are not significantly different (p > 0.1; Student's t).

Reinforcement with ceramic

silicon nitride single-crystalline
whiskers fused with silica particles resulted in a substantial
improvement in composite
mechanical properties. The flexural strength and modulus values of the whisker composite
were more than twice those of a
conventional composite with
silica particles in a similar
matrix resin at a similar filler
level. The reinforcement mechanisms of the whisker composite
resins appeared in the present
study to be whiskers pinning
and deflecting the cracks, and
friction from whiskers being
pulled out of the resin matrix
resisting crack opening and
propagation. The numerous
and relatively large steps in the

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j Dent Res 78(7) 1999

Dental Resins Containing Whiskers with Various Filler Levels

fracture surfaces of the whisker composites are in contrast to

the relatively flat fracture surfaces of the unfilled resin and a
hybrid posterior composite reinforced with glass particles
(TPH). While quantitative fractography of the composite
fracture surfaces requires a separate study (Anusavice and
Hojjatie, 1992; Thompson et al., 1994; Kelly et al., 1995), the
fracture lines and steps in the fracture surfaces around the
whiskers are typical of crack pinning and deflection by the
fillers (Lawn, 1993; Xu et al., 1994). The remnants of matrix
resin on the pulled-out whiskers suggest substantial resistance to crack opening and propagation, with energy consumption during whisker-resin debonding and friction
during whisker pullout. The reinforcement mechanisms of
crack deflection and frictional pullout of fillers, observed in
the present study, are consistent with those observed in the
reinforcement of other materials (Lawn, 1993; Wolf et al.,
1993; Anusavice et al., 1994; Xu et al., 1994). The strength and
toughness of the whiskers appear to have contributed to the
reinforcement efficacy. Whiskers with high strength and
toughness values are less likely to be broken during crack
pinning and deflection, as well as during frictional pullout
of the whiskers. The high strength (approximately 50 GPa,
an order of magnitude greater than that of glass fibers) and
fracture toughness (approximately 2.5 MPamM12, 3 times that
of glass fibers) (Lawn, 1993; Xu et al., 1996; Iwanaga and
Kawai, 1998) of the ceramic single-crystalline whiskers are
likely responsible for the improved mechanical properties of
composite resins developed in the present study. In addition, the roughened surfaces of whiskers due to fusion with
silica particles may have enhanced the whisker silanization
and improved the whisker retention in the matrix, hence
also contributing to the reinforcement efficacy (Xu et al.,
1999).
A key factor that determines the properties of a composite resin is its filler level (Cross et al., 1983; St. Germain et al.,
1985; Li et al., 1985; Braem et al., 1989; Johnson et al., 1993;
Htang et al., 1995; Condon and Ferracane, 1997).
Controversial results have been obtained in previous studies
on the effect of filler level on composite mechanical properties. Braem et al. (1989) showed that both the elastic modulus
and the strength of a composite resin increased monotonically with increased filler level. Condon and Ferracane
(1997) found that the composite wear depth decreased
monotonically with an increase in the filler level. However,
Johnson et al. (1993) showed that the diametral tensile
strength and fracture toughness values of the composite first
increased with an increase in the filler level, but then
decreased with a further increase in the filler level.
Similarly, Htang et al. (1995) found that the fatigue resistance of composite increased with an increase in the filler
level, reaching a maximum, then decreased with a further
increase in the filler level. In the present study, we observed
that the composite flexural strength first increased, then
basically plateaued, with an increase in the filler level. The
modulus and hardness, on the other hand, increased monotonically with filler level. Results of the present study suggest that the decreased degree of conversion (Table) was
competing with an increased degree of reinforcement from
the higher whisker filler level. The strength improvement
due to a higher whisker content was somewhat offset by a

1309

slightly weaker matrix, resulting from a decreased degree of

conversion. The modulus and hardness appeared to depend
more on the whisker filler level than on the degree of conversion. The range of degrees of conversion measured in the
present study was similar to those reported by Ferracane
and Marker (1992), Ferracane et al. (1997), and Loza-Herrero
et al. (1998) on dental composite resins filled with glass particles. Further studies are required to investigate why a
higher whisker filler level would decrease the degree of conversion. A possible reason for the observed decrease in
degree of conversion with increasing filler is that the filler
phase acts to absorb the heat of polymerization partially,
thereby moderating the exotherm of polymerization and
conversion. Another possibility is that a higher concentration of dissolved air in the more heavily filled composites
may have adversely affected the conversion. It is conceivable that if the degree of conversion could be improved, the
whisker composites would possess even higher strength values. The improved strength of the heat-cured whisker composite at a filler mass fraction of 70% confirms this point.
With the compositions used in the present study, the
mixed whisker-resin pastes hardened in about 2 min after
placement in a prepared tooth cavity or in a specimen mold.
The hardened whisker composite had a polishability similar
to that of a hybrid posterior composite filled with fine glass
particles (Fig. 4). This is likely a result of the relatively small
size of the whiskers (mean diameter = 0.4 ,m, mean length
= 5.0 pLm). Short fibers that have been used to reinforce dental composite resins usually have a diameter of about 10 pm
and a length of about 100 Fim (Krause et al., 1989; Willems et
al., 1992). It has been suggested that the smaller whiskers
tend to yield a smaller surface roughness for the composite
after being machined or polished (Xu et al., 1996). The
whisker composite resin, although relatively opaque, had a
whitish color similar to that of enamel. The substantial reinforcement resulting from silica-fused ceramic whiskers may
extend the use of direct-filling composite resins to large
stress-bearing posterior restorations that involve the
replacement of enamel cusps. The superior strength of the
heat-cured whisker composite may enable it to be used in
indirect inlay, onlay, and crown applications. Further studies should more closely match the refractive index of the
transparent single-crystalline whiskers to that of the matrix
resin to improve the esthetics of the whisker composite. In
addition, while preliminary studies showed that the wear of
enamel against a whisker composite was similar to that
against a hybrid composite control, further studies should
systematically investigate the wear of whisker composite
against tooth enamel, perhaps as a function of whisker size,
whisker composition, and filler level.

Acknowledgments
The author is grateful to Drs. F.C. Eichmiller and J.M.
Antonucci for fruitful discussions, J.W. Stansbury for help
in the degree of conversion measurement, G.E. Schumacher
for tooth cavity restorations, and H. Liao for statistical
analysis. This study was supported by NIDCR grants P 50
DE09322 and R29 DE12476, NIST, and the ADAHF.

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1310

J Dent Res 78(7) 1999

Xu

Disclaimer
Certain commercial materials and equipment are identified
in this paper to specify the experimental procedure. In no
instance does such identification imply recommendation or
endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology or the ADA Health Foundation or that the
material or equipment identified is necessarily the best
available for the purpose.

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